It's not a VW but, I'm still so proud of my niece right now..
A bit of foreground to this story.... About 5 years ago I stumbled across an '81 300SD in the paper for $500.. Went to look at it, the speedometer and alot of the gadets didn;t work, interior was trash, exterior was rusty with some dents.. Who knows what the actual milage was.. But it ran like a top and had 4 new tires.. Later the day I looked at it the guy called me back and said $300 or it's going to the crusher over the weekend.. I picked it up the next night.. A bit of bondo and spray paint, some bone yard interior, and alot of other knick knacks.. I had it on the road for a tad under $700.. Drove it for about 6 months then passed it to my sister for a second car to eventually become my niece's first ride.. She learned to paralell park that boat, learned to drive in snow in a RWD (Everyone should do that!).. She wasn;t the greatest at checking oil or tire pressure, or telling when it needed serviced.. She did learn how to use jumper cables though.. The head light warning did not work...
So about a month before she was to load the ole gal up and head off to college she got rearended by some broad in a Lumina.. Rust and bondo everywhere I tell you!! The Mercedes was pushed about 50 feet with tbe brakes on till it went off road, sheared off a steel mailbox post filled with concrete, and creamed a camper.. Oh yea, some bungees on the rear bumper and trunk, and you can guess which car drove home...
After a month's worth of battling and filing complaints (over getting paid not the amount) the other lady's insurance cut a check for close $2000.. Who'd a thunk it... Hindsight, I wish we would have kept the car though..
So off to school she went without a car (maybe not a bad thing) and car shopping I went.. My niece really liked my Crown Vic, except the gas milage.. We looked at a ton of crapped out Malibus and such, a few decent toyota's, a Bonneville and I forget what else.. Nothing suited either her or me at the same time.. Then I had a craig's list find....
1983 Mercedes 300D 161,000 miles small surface rust spots, sun bleached paint and interior, a/c compressor bad but new one included.. $1200... (Heck that was less than a POS Malibu with similar milage!) I spoke with the guy over the phone, went to look a day later and brought it home.. Hasn;t been on the road since 2000, but has been drivin around the block just to keep it runnin.. Needs a round of filters, fluids, and greasing, and some tires.. I plan to replace belts hoses and gp's for good measure.. His definition of rust was basically from stone chipping, a bit of touch up paint and under coat with a good buffing, it'll look pretty good for it's age.... I'll post pics tomorrow...
Anyhow I was away for the holiday weekend, but my niece was home from school and saw the car.. She was friggen extatic!! (Yes I got the 18 year old girl squealing with excitment phone call) It restores my hope in todays youth, really it does!!! A skinny blond 18 year old girl is thrilled to have a 26 year old 4 door diesel Mercedes... I've been told though, that the original and working Becker tape deck has to go.. I guess I can deal with that...